Chapter 71: When Roses Were Sweet (1)

[71] 10. When Roses Were Sweet (1)

The end of a return is always a story.

Only after you speak of it, does a journey truly come to an end.

In the Tower Master’s office.

When we returned. We told them everything.

What happened between Parsley and me,

what Parsley had done,

the strange person we’d met in another world,

…And even the sins I had committed.

“I killed 72 people. To sate my own greed.”

Those words flowed out after several moments of hesitation. Unable to meet their eyes, I continued,

“It might seem sudden, but I thought I should tell you all. Because that way…”

I felt my throat close up. Parsley, sitting next to me, gently grabbed my arm. I smiled bitterly.

“Well, I don’t really care,”

The one who said that was Feya, with a dissatisfied look on her face.

“In any case, you’re still my big bro, whether you killed 72 people or not. That fact doesn’t change.”

“I have a similar opinion,”

Clara said with a gentle smile.

“Of course, I’m not condoning those actions. But it’s not something that would make me leave you.”

Feya’s and Clara’s acceptance.

It gave me both a sense of warmth and a sharp pang of guilt.

Did I deserve their kindness?

“Oppa, you said the trial was in Nicolai year 61?”

Amidst this, Irene’s question seemed somewhat out of place. Turning to look at Irene, I saw confusion on her face.

“Yeah, Nicolai year 61.”

“But… No, then, the variable at that time… Why didn’t she tell me…”

Suddenly, she started mumbling to herself. I was staring at her, puzzled, when she abruptly stood up.

“Sorry, Oppa… I need some time to think.”

Then, without another word, she left the room.

An uncomfortable silence descended.

Clara clapped her hands, breaking it.

“Well, we can discuss this later. Let’s deal with the matter at hand.”

Clara’s eyes turned to the corner of the room.

It was where the man who had been listening to us silently was standing.

“Vice-Tower Master, what are you planning to do now?”

It was Parsley’s idea to tell him everything. After all, attacking the tower master was a serious crime.

She wanted to take responsibility for her actions, now that she had chosen to live.

“…What’s the Tower Master’s current condition?”

Parsley flinched at the Vice-Tower Master’s question. But she quickly composed herself and answered in a calm voice.

“Her body is alive, but her soul is gone. The price of the magic.”

“Can you heal her?”

“…It’s impossible. She’s practically a living corpse…”

The vice-tower master groaned. Parsley shrunk back even further, and I gently took hold of her arm.

I could feel her hand trembling.

But Parsley spoke up again.

“I’m not asking to be excused for killing tower master. Whatever punishment you deem fit, I will accept it.”

Parsley lowered her head deeply.

The Vice-Tower Master, looking at her, let out a deep sigh. Then, running his hand through his hair, he said,

“You should. Because you will have to lead the Magic Tower from now on.”

His words felt like a blow to her head.

“Of course, you won’t be able to take over as the Tower Master’s position right away. You’ll be working on the council for a while and then…”

“W-Wait, what do you mean?”

Parsley stammered, looking at the Vice-Tower Master, her face pale.

“I killed my mother. How could I possibly…”

“That’s what Sage wished.”

Parsley’s face was filled with confusion. The Vice-Tower Master, rubbing the space between his brows with a tired look, continued,

“Don’t ask me why. All I know is that Sage killed her abusive mother, and that she believed that she would one day meet the same end as her own mother. And she took certain measures, including me, in preparation for that day.”

“…”

“And right after that, she wanted you to take her position as the Tower Master.”

Parsley’s eyes trembled. Looking at her, he said,

“Become the Tower Master, Parsley. That’s the only punishment you can receive.”

***

A quiet bedroom, shrouded in the darkness of night.

Parsley, lying in bed, looked up at me and asked,

“Just what kind of person was my mother?”

She asked me that just as I was about to leave the room and say my goodbyes.

I pulled a chair over to her bedside and sat down. She continued, her expression full of confusion,

“I thought she didn’t love me. Because if she really did… she wouldn’t have done something like that to me.”

Parsley bit her lower lip.

“But she knew I would kill her? And she still wanted me to become the next Tower Master?”

I could sense sadness, as well as anger, in her voice.

“Then, why in the first place… I wasn’t even asking for much…”

“What matters aren’t her intentions, but her actions.”

Parsley’s trembling eyes turned to me. Stroking her forehead, I said,

“Whatever her intentions might have been, the fact is that Sage tampered with your memories and abandoned you. And that’s something that can never be justified.”

“…”

“You can’t understand everyone, and you can’t forgive everything either.”

*Just forget about it,* I added with a faint smile. Parsley smiled sadly and then took my hand in hers, saying,

“…You’re right.”

Then, rubbing her face against my hand, she whispered,

“…But I guess it can’t be helped that I still hold onto hope until the very end, huh?”

… I didn’t answer. Instead, I simply offered my hand so that Parsley could rest her cheek on the back of it.

Until she finally pulled her cheek away, her eyes still wet with tears.

“I’m going to become the Tower Master.”

I didn’t ask why. I just waited for her to continue.

“Not to carry on her will. And it’s not because it’s my dream. To begin with, the reason I wanted to be the Tower Master was to get her attention. It doesn’t mean anything to me now.”

Parsley tightened her grip on my hand.

“But… I want to at least clean up this mess I created. And maybe even atone for the things my mom did for power.”

*I think I’ll be able to find peace then,* Parsley concluded. I expressed my agreement with a smile instead of words.

Then, Parsley carefully looked at me and asked,

“…What are you going to do now?”

Her question brought a sad smile to my lips.

It was the very question I had been asking myself since regaining my memories.

Sage’s memory manipulation had been a blessing in a way.

I was able to live, forgetting about the 72 people I’d killed.

But now knew that my hands were stained with blood, and I could feel its weight.

The problem was, I didn’t know how to wash it away.

“Well…”

I smiled bitterly and trailed off.

All 72 people I’d killed were beggars. They had no relatives, no one to even remember them. I wanted to apologize, but I couldn’t.

So I, in the past, had tried to end it all as atonement, to die as a test subject. But that’s no longer an option.

My life wasn’t just mine anymore.

The Rose Rem mercenary group, Clara, Parsley…

Too much would be lost if I disappeared.

I couldn’t simply kill myself.

“…I guess I’ll have to keep thinking about it.”

Parsley made a sad expression at my words, and then gently pulled my arm.

I laid down beside her, mesmerized.

Eyes like emeralds turn towards me.

“I’ll think about it with you.”

She smiled and added,

“Because we decided to live together.”

Her words felt so heavy, so warm. They almost made me choke up.

I barely managed to nod.

“…Okay.”

That night, lying beside Parsley, I had a dream of walking on a path.

It was a path that stretched from one horizon to the other in a wasteland. I was carrying a heavy burden and stumbled and fell repeatedly.

It looked as if just moving forward was a miracle.

But I kept walking, smiling.

I didn’t stop.

Because next to me, a girl with the same burden was walking beside me, holding my hand.

Of course, it didn’t lighten my load. It was the same for her.

Pain, in the end, is a personal thing, and sorrow doesn’t become half just because it’s shared.

But because we were holding hands, I could walk on. I could endure just by knowing that someone was by my side.

Humans can move forward just by knowing that they’re not alone.

And so, I had a happy dream,

a happy dream that would continue from now on.

…

…

…

…And the next morning,

I woke up Inside a giant pit.

“…Huh?”

***

Finally, my hand reached the edge of the pit.

I pulled myself up with the last of my remaining strength.

My body slowly emerged from the pit.

Then, finally, I was standing on solid ground.

“Haah… Haah…”

I lay there, sprawled out, panting.

My sweat-soaked body ached with muscle pain.

But I forced myself to stand.

Then I looked down at the pit I had desperately climbed out of.

It was at least 20 meters deep.

Definitely not something that could have formed overnight.

I Irritably run my hand through my hair and looked around.

A prairie where the sky seemed to meet the earth.

White dots—tents—were scattered in the distance.

And as far as I knew, there was only one place on the continent like this.

The Great Plains of the West, the very place where the cultists had staged their rebellion.

…It was at least a week away from the Magic Tower by carriage.

I groaned, holding my head.

What the hell is going on?

I definitely fell asleep next to Parsley, in the Magic Tower.

But I’m suddenly… in the Western Prairie?

And inside a pit 20 meters deep?

This is beyond absurd.

Even more so, considering the fact that I had just spent what felt like hours, climbing out.

“What the fuck is going on… Huu…”

I exhaled, trying to release all the questions that were bottled up inside me.

It wasn’t like anything would change just by standing here and clutching my head. And besides, the nearest tent didn’t seem that far.

Hoping that someone would be able to explain this absurd situation, I started walking towards it.

Then, a short while later…

The tent was now close enough to see.

A man was stepping out, carrying a horsehide.

I excitedly waved my hand,

“Um, [sle-pa! dieo, de…?] No, [deimana… tu…]”

“I speak the Common Tongue.”

The man’s common tongue was a bit awkward.

I sighed in relief. The language these people use was too difficult for me.

The relief was short-lived. I said, walking toward him,

“I’m sorry, but could I ask for directions? Where exactly am I?”

“Where else would a place where the fields meet the sky be but the great plains? That’s an odd question.”

He gave me a curt reply as he hung the horsehide on a drying rack. I smiled awkwardly and continued,

“Well, yes, that’s true, but… there’s a huge pit near here. Do you know how it got there?”

“A pit?”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with suspicion.

His gaze narrowed as he took in my dirty appearance.

“No, I don’t. I’ve never even heard of it.”

I was a little disappointed, I had been hoping he’d be able to tell me something about it.

So, that means the pit really just suddenly appeared? That massive thing? Just what in the world…

“But I suppose Rosalia, the Emperor, must have had it dug out to build that damn tower.”

At that moment, my mind went blank.

“What?”

“Lately, Emperor Rosalia has been sending workers here. So…”

“No, that’s not it.”

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my mind. Looking at him with trembling eyes, I asked again,

“Emperor Rosalia? What do you mean? Isn’t the Emperor of the Empire Nicolai?”

At those words, the man chuckled.

Looking at me, now even more confused, he explained as if correcting,

“Have you been living under a rock for the few years? It’s been four years since Emperor Nicolai died and Rosalia ascended to the throne.”

If words were hammers striking my skull, it would feel like this.

I stammered, my hands trembling,

“W-Wait, then what year is it? Or rather, how many years has it been since Nicolai became Emperor?”

“It’s year 69. Have you really been living in the middle of nowhere? How could you not…”

Nicolai year 69.

The present.

I hadn’t gone to the future, nor returned to the past.

But the Emperor had changed?

Four years ago at that?

And what confused me the most was the Emperor’s name:

Rosalia.

As far as I know, there’s only one person with that name.

“Captain Rose… is the Emperor…?”

******** (Author’s Afterword)

[71] 10. When Roses Were Sweet (1)

The end of a return is always a story.

Only after you speak of it, does a journey truly come to an end.

In the Tower Master’s office.

When we returned. We told them everything.

What happened between Parsley and me,

what Parsley had done,

the strange person we’d met in another world,

…And even the sins I had committed.

“I killed 72 people. To sate my own greed.”

Those words flowed out after several moments of hesitation. Unable to meet their eyes, I continued,

“It might seem sudden, but I thought I should tell you all. Because that way…”

I felt my throat close up. Parsley, sitting next to me, gently grabbed my arm. I smiled bitterly.

“Well, I don’t really care,”

The one who said that was Feya, with a dissatisfied look on her face.

“In any case, you’re still my big bro, whether you killed 72 people or not. That fact doesn’t change.”

“I have a similar opinion,”

Clara said with a gentle smile.

“Of course, I’m not condoning those actions. But it’s not something that would make me leave you.”

Feya’s and Clara’s acceptance.

It gave me both a sense of warmth and a sharp pang of guilt.

Did I deserve their kindness?

“Oppa, you said the trial was in Nicolai year 61?”

Amidst this, Irene’s question seemed somewhat out of place. Turning to look at Irene, I saw confusion on her face.

“Yeah, Nicolai year 61.”

“But… No, then, the variable at that time… Why didn’t she tell me…”

Suddenly, she started mumbling to herself. I was staring at her, puzzled, when she abruptly stood up.

“Sorry, Oppa… I need some time to think.”

Then, without another word, she left the room.

An uncomfortable silence descended.

Clara clapped her hands, breaking it.

“Well, we can discuss this later. Let’s deal with the matter at hand.”

Clara’s eyes turned to the corner of the room.

It was where the man who had been listening to us silently was standing.

“Vice-Tower Master, what are you planning to do now?”

It was Parsley’s idea to tell him everything. After all, attacking the tower master was a serious crime.

She wanted to take responsibility for her actions, now that she had chosen to live.

“…What’s the Tower Master’s current condition?”

Parsley flinched at the Vice-Tower Master’s question. But she quickly composed herself and answered in a calm voice.

“Her body is alive, but her soul is gone. The price of the magic.”

“Can you heal her?”

“…It’s impossible. She’s practically a living corpse…”

The vice-tower master groaned. Parsley shrunk back even further, and I gently took hold of her arm.

I could feel her hand trembling.

But Parsley spoke up again.

“I’m not asking to be excused for killing tower master. Whatever punishment you deem fit, I will accept it.”

Parsley lowered her head deeply.

The Vice-Tower Master, looking at her, let out a deep sigh. Then, running his hand through his hair, he said,

“You should. Because you will have to lead the Magic Tower from now on.”

His words felt like a blow to her head.

“Of course, you won’t be able to take over as the Tower Master’s position right away. You’ll be working on the council for a while and then…”

“W-Wait, what do you mean?”

Parsley stammered, looking at the Vice-Tower Master, her face pale.

“I killed my mother. How could I possibly…”

“That’s what Sage wished.”

Parsley’s face was filled with confusion. The Vice-Tower Master, rubbing the space between his brows with a tired look, continued,

“Don’t ask me why. All I know is that Sage killed her abusive mother, and that she believed that she would one day meet the same end as her own mother. And she took certain measures, including me, in preparation for that day.”

“…”

“And right after that, she wanted you to take her position as the Tower Master.”

Parsley’s eyes trembled. Looking at her, he said,

“Become the Tower Master, Parsley. That’s the only punishment you can receive.”

***

A quiet bedroom, shrouded in the darkness of night.

Parsley, lying in bed, looked up at me and asked,

“Just what kind of person was my mother?”

She asked me that just as I was about to leave the room and say my goodbyes.

I pulled a chair over to her bedside and sat down. She continued, her expression full of confusion,

“I thought she didn’t love me. Because if she really did… she wouldn’t have done something like that to me.”

Parsley bit her lower lip.

“But she knew I would kill her? And she still wanted me to become the next Tower Master?”

I could sense sadness, as well as anger, in her voice.

“Then, why in the first place… I wasn’t even asking for much…”

“What matters aren’t her intentions, but her actions.”

Parsley’s trembling eyes turned to me. Stroking her forehead, I said,

“Whatever her intentions might have been, the fact is that Sage tampered with your memories and abandoned you. And that’s something that can never be justified.”

“…”

“You can’t understand everyone, and you can’t forgive everything either.”

*Just forget about it,* I added with a faint smile. Parsley smiled sadly and then took my hand in hers, saying,

“…You’re right.”

Then, rubbing her face against my hand, she whispered,

“…But I guess it can’t be helped that I still hold onto hope until the very end, huh?”

… I didn’t answer. Instead, I simply offered my hand so that Parsley could rest her cheek on the back of it.

Until she finally pulled her cheek away, her eyes still wet with tears.

“I’m going to become the Tower Master.”

I didn’t ask why. I just waited for her to continue.

“Not to carry on her will. And it’s not because it’s my dream. To begin with, the reason I wanted to be the Tower Master was to get her attention. It doesn’t mean anything to me now.”

Parsley tightened her grip on my hand.

“But… I want to at least clean up this mess I created. And maybe even atone for the things my mom did for power.”

*I think I’ll be able to find peace then,* Parsley concluded. I expressed my agreement with a smile instead of words.

Then, Parsley carefully looked at me and asked,

“…What are you going to do now?”

Her question brought a sad smile to my lips.

It was the very question I had been asking myself since regaining my memories.

Sage’s memory manipulation had been a blessing in a way.

I was able to live, forgetting about the 72 people I’d killed.

But now knew that my hands were stained with blood, and I could feel its weight.

The problem was, I didn’t know how to wash it away.

“Well…”

I smiled bitterly and trailed off.

All 72 people I’d killed were beggars. They had no relatives, no one to even remember them. I wanted to apologize, but I couldn’t.

So I, in the past, had tried to end it all as atonement, to die as a test subject. But that’s no longer an option.

My life wasn’t just mine anymore.

The Rose Rem mercenary group, Clara, Parsley…

Too much would be lost if I disappeared.

I couldn’t simply kill myself.

“…I guess I’ll have to keep thinking about it.”

Parsley made a sad expression at my words, and then gently pulled my arm.

I laid down beside her, mesmerized.

Eyes like emeralds turn towards me.

“I’ll think about it with you.”

She smiled and added,

“Because we decided to live together.”

Her words felt so heavy, so warm. They almost made me choke up.

I barely managed to nod.

“…Okay.”

That night, lying beside Parsley, I had a dream of walking on a path.

It was a path that stretched from one horizon to the other in a wasteland. I was carrying a heavy burden and stumbled and fell repeatedly.

It looked as if just moving forward was a miracle.

But I kept walking, smiling.

I didn’t stop.

Because next to me, a girl with the same burden was walking beside me, holding my hand.

Of course, it didn’t lighten my load. It was the same for her.

Pain, in the end, is a personal thing, and sorrow doesn’t become half just because it’s shared.

But because we were holding hands, I could walk on. I could endure just by knowing that someone was by my side.

Humans can move forward just by knowing that they’re not alone.

And so, I had a happy dream,

a happy dream that would continue from now on.

…

…

…

…And the next morning,

I woke up Inside a giant pit.

“…Huh?”

***

Finally, my hand reached the edge of the pit.

I pulled myself up with the last of my remaining strength.

My body slowly emerged from the pit.

Then, finally, I was standing on solid ground.

“Haah… Haah…”

I lay there, sprawled out, panting.

My sweat-soaked body ached with muscle pain.

But I forced myself to stand.

Then I looked down at the pit I had desperately climbed out of.

It was at least 20 meters deep.

Definitely not something that could have formed overnight.

I Irritably run my hand through my hair and looked around.

A prairie where the sky seemed to meet the earth.

White dots—tents—were scattered in the distance.

And as far as I knew, there was only one place on the continent like this.

The Great Plains of the West, the very place where the cultists had staged their rebellion.

…It was at least a week away from the Magic Tower by carriage.

I groaned, holding my head.

What the hell is going on?

I definitely fell asleep next to Parsley, in the Magic Tower.

But I’m suddenly… in the Western Prairie?

And inside a pit 20 meters deep?

This is beyond absurd.

Even more so, considering the fact that I had just spent what felt like hours, climbing out.

“What the fuck is going on… Huu…”

I exhaled, trying to release all the questions that were bottled up inside me.

It wasn’t like anything would change just by standing here and clutching my head. And besides, the nearest tent didn’t seem that far.

Hoping that someone would be able to explain this absurd situation, I started walking towards it.

Then, a short while later…

The tent was now close enough to see.

A man was stepping out, carrying a horsehide.

I excitedly waved my hand,

“Um, [sle-pa! dieo, de…?] No, [deimana… tu…]”

“I speak the Common Tongue.”

The man’s common tongue was a bit awkward.

I sighed in relief. The language these people use was too difficult for me.

The relief was short-lived. I said, walking toward him,

“I’m sorry, but could I ask for directions? Where exactly am I?”

“Where else would a place where the fields meet the sky be but the great plains? That’s an odd question.”

He gave me a curt reply as he hung the horsehide on a drying rack. I smiled awkwardly and continued,

“Well, yes, that’s true, but… there’s a huge pit near here. Do you know how it got there?”

“A pit?”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with suspicion.

His gaze narrowed as he took in my dirty appearance.

“No, I don’t. I’ve never even heard of it.”

I was a little disappointed, I had been hoping he’d be able to tell me something about it.

So, that means the pit really just suddenly appeared? That massive thing? Just what in the world…

“But I suppose Rosalia, the Emperor, must have had it dug out to build that damn tower.”

At that moment, my mind went blank.

“What?”

“Lately, Emperor Rosalia has been sending workers here. So…”

“No, that’s not it.”

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my mind. Looking at him with trembling eyes, I asked again,

“Emperor Rosalia? What do you mean? Isn’t the Emperor of the Empire Nicolai?”

At those words, the man chuckled.

Looking at me, now even more confused, he explained as if correcting,

“Have you been living under a rock for the few years? It’s been four years since Emperor Nicolai died and Rosalia ascended to the throne.”

If words were hammers striking my skull, it would feel like this.

I stammered, my hands trembling,

“W-Wait, then what year is it? Or rather, how many years has it been since Nicolai became Emperor?”

“It’s year 69. Have you really been living in the middle of nowhere? How could you not…”

Nicolai year 69.

The present.

I hadn’t gone to the future, nor returned to the past.

But the Emperor had changed?

Four years ago at that?

And what confused me the most was the Emperor’s name:

Rosalia.

As far as I know, there’s only one person with that name.

“Captain Rose… is the Emperor…?”